As evidenced by the handpainted sign stationed at the entrance to town, the locals in Talkeenta, Alaska (population: 772), are happy to share their quaint corner of the 49th state with visitors. Talkeenta actually has an international feel, with all of the mountaineers who descend upon the town before they fly to the base camp of Mount McKinley in Denali National Park. If summiting North America's highest peak isn't quite what you had in mind for your vacation, many local air-taxi services offer flightseeing trips around the massive glacier -- no crampons required. Escorted tours and cruisetours that make stops in Talkeenta introduce travelers to small-town Alaskan life. In fact, Talkeenta was the inspiration for the fictional Alaskan community of Cicely, which was portrayed on the television show Northern Exposure in the early 1990s. The downtown core of Talkeenta is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many buildings dating to the turn of the century. Prospectors first settled here during the 1896 gold rush, and it was a riverboat steamer station that brought supplies to prospectors heading northwest, according to the Talkeetna Historical Society. Today, it's not mining for gold that brings people from out of state to Talkeenta, but the amazing wilderness scenery, with Mount McKinley featured prominently as the town's backdrop. But the glacially fed rivers also beckon; the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna all converge here, providing endless opportunities for salmon and trout fishing. If you're not an angler, consider a mild float trip or exhilarating jetboat ride on the river. On land, multiple hiking trails fan out from Talkeenta, many with fabulous views of the Alaska Range -- a marvelous subject for professional and amateur photographers. Or spend some leisure time simply walking through the historic downtown and picking up souvenirs from the handful of gift shops.

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